RESIDENTS in Wyre Forest are being encouraged to sign up to get their council tax bill by email.

Wyre Forest District Council is asking residents to go online and register for the service which saves the authority time, paper, printing and postage costs, as well as helping the environment.

Residents who sign up will get their bill emailed as a PDF attachment rather than receiving a traditional paper bill.

Councillor Sara Fearn, cabinet member for transformation and change, said: "Many people now receive their utilities bills by email and we offer the same service for the council tax bills.

"At the moment less than five per cent of households in the district receive their bill by email.

"This is much lower than Wychavon, Worcester and Malvern Hills where around 20 per cent of households have signed up.

"It saves the council money for each resident who has their bill by email - money which could be put into protecting services."

Anyone who would like to sign up can visit wyreforestdc.gov.uk/paperfree.

The council tax account number - found at the top right-hand corner of the bill - and a valid email address are required.

When the registration form is received by the council, a copy of the resident's last bill will be emailed to them to confirm that the service has been started.

The district council aims to send anyone who signs up before Tuesday, February 21, their 2017/18 and subsequent council tax bills by email.

Anyone who signs up after February 21, will still get a paper version this year, but will receive their bills by email from 2018.